Australia ensured history didn't repeat as they overcame another Andrew Symonds controversy to thrash Bangladesh by 180 runs in the first one-day match at TIO Stadium in Darwin. The home side recovered from the distraction of having Symonds again pulled out of the match for disciplinary issues – just as he was in Cardiff in 2005 – to post a commanding 8-254 on a slowish wicket after being sent in.
They then wrapped up an imposing victory by skittling the tourists for 74 in 27.4 overs thanks to some excellent bowling and several dreadful shots by the Tigers' over-awed batsmen.
The victory was a significant one for Mike Hussey and Michael Clarke, the only two members of the side who were part of the embarrassing defeat to Bangladesh in the Welsh capital after Symonds showed up at the ground drunk.
Hussey's superb 85 from 87 balls bankrolled Australia's innings and earned him the man-of-the-match award, while Clarke sealed his first one-day win as acting skipper on home soil with the final catch of the match.
Clarke was forced to confront one of the less joyous parts of leading the team – he is doing so in Ricky Ponting's absence after wrist surgery – by deciding to send Symonds home after he missed a compulsory team meeting because he was fishing.
Even without Ponting, Symonds, Matthew Hayden and Brett Lee, it was clear Australia were able to exert their aura over their opponent.
"I'll be disappointed if we don't because our performances have been fantastic, especially in one-day cricket," Clarke said.
"We beat the West Indies 5-0 and we've come here and won convincingly today.
"We've got a fantastic squad, we've got so much talent around Australia and it doesn't matter who we play – every time we walk out to play for Australia we expect to win."
Opener Shaun Marsh also retained his composure with an elegant 76 in his first international innings on home soil, before Hussey provided the aggression in Symonds' absence, smashing three fours and a six off the 48th over. In reply, Bangladesh were on the back foot from the fourth over, when Stuart Clark first struck.
Any thoughts of another upset were then dashed when Mitchell Johnson removed the visitors' two best batsmen, Tamim Iqbal and captain Mohammad Ashraful, in successive overs to have the tourists 3-33 in the 11th over.
Highlighting a series of poor shots, Iqbal (21) scooped a rising delivery to Brett Geeves at third man, while Ashraful made a mess of a ball he should have defended and was leg before for 5.
Johnson finished with 2-10, Geeves took 2-11 in his one-day international debut and leg spinner Cameron White cashed in with a career-best 3-5.
Bangladesh coach Jamie Siddons said the pre-meditated and poor shots proved the tourists were not ready for the challenge, by forgetting to remain patient.
"It changes every day for our boys, they can be wonderful with that minimal footwork and shot-playing, but they can also be ordinary," Siddons said.
"It's more the selection of shot.
"I think the occasion was too big for them.
"The people back home have built up this series a lot and the players felt that a bit today. It looked like they weren't up to it mentally."
Bangladesh's score was their lowest in a one-day international, surpassing the 76 against India in 2003.
No comments:
Post a Comment